Device for handling logs and the like



Feb. 11, 1964 J. J. EAVES 3,120,898

DEVICE FOR HANDLING LOGS AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 1, 1960 1/ FIG. I

- INVENTOR.

4 JAMES J. EAVES BY flaw/- 0 79 I United States Patent 3,120,898 DEVKEFrill. HANDLUQG EGGS AND THE LIKE Eanies .l. Eaves, Louisville, Miss,assignor to Taylor Machine Works, Louisville, Miss. Filed Bee. 1, was,N0. 73,1lil 3 Claims. (it'll. 21'4654) This invention relates toimprovements in devices for handling logs, lumber and the like, and isparticularly adapted for use with the so-called forklift type of log andlumber handling machines.

In using the above mentioned type of machines, the logs are carried bythe load supporting structure or forks with the forks contacting thelogs i termediate the ends thereof and with the logs extendingtransversely of the machine and projecting laterally out in oppositedirections from the forks. Heretofore, in the use of these machines thelogs had to be evenly balanced on the lifting forks or they would falloff when tnaveiin over uneven and rough terrain. in other words, it wasnecessary for the forks to contact the logs at the center of gravitythereof or they would tilt to one side and fall off.

Thus, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide, in alog and lumber handling machine, an attachrnent or device for holdingthe logs on the lifting forks so that even though the logs are notevenly balanced on the forks they will not fall off.

A further object is to provide such an attachment which holds the logsby encircling the logs and putting downward pressure thereon.

A further object is to provide such an attachment which makes itpossible to carry more logs on the lift forks.

A further object is to provide such an attachment whicl due to the factthat the logs do not have to be balanced, eliminates much maneuvering toexactly position the logs, thereby saving much time and making it aneasier job.

A further object is to provide such an attachment which is adapted tohold packaged lumber in place while traveling over rough terrain.

A further object is to provide means in such an attachment to conform tothe irregular contour of the logs to exert downward pressure thereon.

A further object is generally to improve the design and construction ofdevices for handling logs and the like.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects of the presentinvention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment willbe readily understood from the following specification upon reference tothe accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the attachment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken as on the line lL-ll ofFIG. 1, with parts broken away for purposes of illustration.

FIG. 3 is a reduced side elevational view of a log handling machineembodying the present invention, and shown in use to carry logs.

Referring now to the drawings in which the various parts are indicatedby numerals, it is contemplated that the attachment or device 11 of thepresent invention be used with any suitable machine adapted to handlelogs, lumber and the like. For example, a typical machine with which thedevice 11 is adapted to be used is shown in FIG. 3 wherein it will beseen a log handling machine 13 includes a self-propelled wheeled vehicle15 having a mast 17 adjacent the forward part thereof upon which isslidably mounted a carriage 19 adapted to be moved upwardly anddownwardly along mast 1'7 by suitable means to raise and lower the loadA, which is illustrated in this figure as logs. Also, in the usualmanner mast l7 3,120,893 Patented Feb. 11, 1964 is adapted to be poweractuated to tilt the mast forwardly or rearwardly. In addition, machine13 preferably includes the usual load supporting structure 21 attachedto carriage 19 and extending forwardly therefrom, and which ispreferably in the form of the usual pair of lift forks that are spacedlaterally and rigidly attached adjacent the lower end of carriage 19 inthe usual manner for upward and downward movement therewith.

Device 11 includes a load retainer 23 pivotally joined adjacent itsinner end to carriage 19 for pivot about a horizontal axis as at 25.Retainer 23 includes in general a top portion 27, extending fromadjacent carriage l9 outwardly, and an end portion 2% attached to thetop portion adjacent the outer end t erco-f and depending therefrom. Topportion 2'7 is preferably constructed in the form of an open frameworkincluding spaced parallel side members 31 which are rigidlyinterconnected by a transverse pipe 33 extending therebetween andrigidly joined thereto. Side members 31 are the actual parts pivotallyattached to carriage 12 as above described, and are preferably attachedto the carriage as by means of pins 35 extending through alignedapertures in the inner ends of side members 31 and in the forwardlyprojecting portions 37 of carriage 19.

End portion 2% is preferably also of open framework construction andpreferably includes a pair of spaced parallel legs 39 rigidly attachedadjacent the upper ends thereof respectively to the side members 31adjacent the outer ends thereof with the legs 39 preferably extendingdownwardly at a 90 degree angle relative to side members 31. Legs 39 andside members 31 are preferably, though not necessarily, of l-beamconstruction. A transverse brace member 531, preferably in the form of apipe, rigidly interconnects legs 39. Brackets 43 are rigidly attached toside members 31 and legs 39' adjacent the junotures thereof to providefurther rigidity to retainer 23. End portion 29 additionally includes atransverse portion 45 rigidly attached to and extending between thelower ends of legs 39. Transverse portion 45 is preferably tapered, asviewed from the side thereof as in FIGS. 2 and 3, towards the distal endthereof; and the lower outer edges 47, as viewed from the front thereofas in FIG. 1, extend downwardly and inwardly to a substantiallyhorizontally disposed intermediate lower edge 49. Transverse portion 45is formed by any suitable means and preferably includes a plate 51attached to and extending across between legs 39 on the inner sidesthereof and extending therebelow. The lower ends of legs 39 arepreferably formed at an angle, as best seen in RS. 2, to which ispreferably rigidly attached a plate 53 extending thereacross, as bestseen in FIGS. 1 and 2. Another plate 55 is attached in back-to-b ackrelationship with plate 51 on the portion of plate 51 extending pastlegs 39.. A plurality of vertical stiifener members 5'7 are fixedlyattached to plates 53, 55? in laterally spaced relationship.

A pair of double acting jacks 59 are provided for pivoting retainer 23.Jacks 59 are preferably, though not necessarily, of a hydraulic type andare of the usual construction including piston rods 61 which arerespecively pivotally attached to side members 31 by suitable means aspins 63 extending through aligned apertures in the end portions 65 ofthe piston rods and rotatably through lugs 6? fixedly attached to sidemembers 31. The cylinders 69 of jacks 59 are respectively pivotallyattached to carriage 19 for pivot about a substantially horizontal axisby suitable means, as pins 71 respectively extending through lugs 73fixedly attached to the cylinder and through apertures in upstandingportions 75 fixedly attached to carriage 19. It will be understood thatwhen jacks 59 are retracted retainer 23 will be moved thereby into araised position, as for going over rough terrain and the like.

example, like the one shown in broken lines in FIG. 3 wherein it will beseen an opening 77 is provided between the retainer and load supportingstructure 21 so that the load A can be placed thereon or removedtherefrom. Also, it will be understood that when jacks 59 are extendedretainer 23 will be moved thereby into a lowered position, as shown insolid lines in FIG. 3, in which position retainer 2 3 with carriage l9and supporting-structure 21 establish an enclosure 79 defining atransverse opening or space 81 through which the load A extends andwhich enclosure completely surrounds the load and retains it onsupporting structure 21. Thus, it will be seen in FIG. 3 that topportion 27, which is substantially horizontal and spaced above loadsupporting structure 21, forms the top of enclosure 7% and the loadsupporting structure 21 forms the bottom thereof. In addition, it willbe understood that end portion 2d forms one end of enclosure 79 and theportion of carriage 1i opposite end portion 29 forms the other end sothat a substantially rectangular enclosure '79 is established.

' A pair of cables are angled across space 31 respectively from endportion 29 to top portion 27. Each of cables .83 and its related partsare substantially identical and the following description of one willsufiice for both. The lower end of cable $33 is coupled to end portion65 by suitable means, as for example, by a loop 85 being provided in theend of the cable which is coupled to an apertured lug 7 as by means of ashackle 89, with the lug in turn being fixedly attached to brace member41. The other end of cable 83 is anchored to top portion 27 by suitablemeans, as for example, by extending the end of the cable throughapertures, not shown, in pipe 33 and securing the end of the cable bymeans of a clamp 91 of known construction. A guide pulley $3 isrotatably mounted from one of side members 31 by suitable means. Cable83 is led over guide pulley 93, and between the guide pulley and thepoint of attachment of the cable with top portion 27 the cable isdoubled back upon itself to establish a bight 95. Another pulley 97engages cable 83 in bight 9S. Pulley 97 is rotatably mounted by suitablemeans on a movable block 99. A tension spring 101 is coupled adjacentone end to block )9 by suitable means, as for example, shackle N3 whichextends through an aperture, not shown, in a projection 105 attached toblock 99 and which shackle is engaged by the end of the spring. Theopposite end of spring Mill is fixedly anchored to top portion 27 bysuitable means, as for example, bolt means it}? attached to the end ofthe spring and extending through an aperture, not shown, in an anchorplate 109 fixedly attached to side member 31 adjacent the outer endthereof. An elongated plate 111 is attached to and projects laterallyoutwardly from side member 31 and'preferably extends from adjacent pipe33 to anchor plate 109. It will be understood that spring 101 urgesblock 99 to the right, as viewed in FIG. 2, which exerts a pull throughpulley 97 on bight 95 to tend to lengthen the bight and pull cable 83taut so that when unengaged by a load the portion 113 of cable 83normally extends at an angle from end portion 29 to top portion 27, asbest seen in FIG. 2. When retainer 23 is moved downwardly onto a loadthe cables 83 press against the load and hold it tightly.

From the foregoing description it will be understood that a veryefficient and unique means is provided for holding a load, as logs orthe like, on a supporting structure so that the logs or the like do nothave to be evenly balanced thereon but are retained against tilting whenIn addition, it will be understood that a unique cable arrangementprovides a great deal of flexibility since it is not necessary for thelogs to fill up completely space 81 but the logs will be compressedtogether by the cables even though not filling up the space, as bestseen in FIG. 3. In other words, the logs will be held tightly eventhough a full load is not being carried. It will further be understoodthat a great deal of time and effort may be saved by the use of thepresent invention since the operator of the log handling machine 13 doesnot have to do a lot of maneuvering to get the logs exactly balanced.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respectto a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that it is notto be so limited since changes and modifications may be made thereinwhich are within the full intended scope of this invention ashereinafter claimed.

1 claim:

1. in a machine for handling logs and the like of the type including acarriage and a load supporting structure connected to said carriage andprojecting forwardly therefrom, the improvement in said machinecomprising a retainer having an inner end pivotally joined to saidcarriage above said supporting structure and pivotable between a loweredposition and a raised position, said retainer includin a top portionextending outwardly from adjacent said carriage and an end portionattached to said top portion adjacent the outer end thereof anddepending therefrom, said end portion being substantially perpendicularto said top portion, when said retainer is in said lowered position saidtop portion extending substantially horizontally, when said loweredposition said retainer establishing with said carriage and saidsupporting structure an enclosure surrounding the load to prevent theload from falling off of said supporting structure, jack means attachedadjacent one end to said carriage and attached adjacent the opposite endto said retainer for moving said retainer between said lowered andraised positions, when in said raised position said retainerestablishing an opening between the lower end of said end portion andsaid supporting structure to permit the load to be moved from and tosaid supporting structure, cable means angled across from said endportion to said top portion and coupled adjacent opposite endsrespectively to said portions in position to contact the load carried onsaid supporting structure, resilient means urging said cable towards ataut position whereby said cable is adapted to exert pressure on saidload when pressed thereagainst to hold the load tightly on saidsupporting structure.

2. In a machine for handling logs and the like of the type including acarriage and a load supporting structure connected to said carriage andprojecting forwardly therefrom, the improvement in said machinecomprising a retainer having an inner end pivotally joined to saidcarriage above said supporting structure and pivotable between a loweredposition and a raised position, said retainer including a top portionextending outwardly from adjacent said carriage and an end portionattached to said top portion adjacent the outer end thereof anddepending therefrom, when in said lowered position said retainerestablishing with said carriage and said supporting structure anenclosure surrounding the load to prevent the load from falling oil ofsaid supporting structure, jack means attached adjacent one end to saidcarriage and attached adjacent the opposite end to said retainer formoving said retainer between said lowered and raised positions, when insaid raised position said retainer establishing an opening between thelower end of said end portion and said supporting structure to permitthe load to be moved from and to said supporting structure, at least onecable angled across from said end portion to said top portion andcoupled adjacent opposite ends respectively to said portions in positionto contact the load carried on said supporting structure, resilientmeans urging said cable towards a taut position whereby said cable isadapted to exert pressure on said load when pressed thereagainst to holdthe load tightly on said supporting structure, said resilient meansincluding a guide pulley rotatably mounted on said retainer and engagingsaid cable, said cable being doubled back between said guide pulley andone of the anchored ends of said cable to establish a bight, a movablepulley block, a pulley rotatably mounted on said lock and engaging saidbight of said cable, and spring means coupled adjacent one end to saidretainer and adjacent the opposite end to said block for urging saidbight in a direction towards the lengthening thereof and therebytightening said cable.

3. In a machine for handling logs and the like of the type including acarriage and a load supporting structure connected to said carriage andprojecting forwardly therefrom, the improvement in said machinecomprising a retainer having an inner end pivotally joined to saidcarriage above said supporting structure and pivotable between a loweredposition and a raised position, said retainer including a top portionextending outwardly from adjacent said carriage and an end portionattached to said top portion adjacent the outer end thereof anddepending therefrom, when in said lowered position said retainerestablishing with said carriage and said supporting structure anenclosure surrounding the load to prevent the load from falling off ofsaid supporting structure, jack means attached adjacent one end to saidcarriage and attached adjacent the opposite end to said retainer formoving said retainer between said lowered and raised positions, when insaid raised position said retainer establishing an opening between thelower end of said end portion and said supporting structure to permitthe load to be moved from and to said supporting structure, a pair oflaterally spaced cables angled across from said end por tion to said topportion and respectively coupled adjacent the opposite ends thereof tosaid portions in position to contact the load carried on said supportingstructure, a pair of resilient means respectively urging said cablestowards tautness whereby said cables are adapted to exert pressure onsaid load when pressed thereagainst to hold the load tightly on saidsupporting structure, said pair of resilient means each including aguide pulley rotatably mounted on said retainer and engaging one of saidcables, said one of said cables being doubled back between said guidepulley and one of the anchored ends of said one of said cables toestablish a bight, a movable pulley block, a pulley rotatably mounted onsaid block and engaging said bight, and spring means coupled adjacentone end to said retainer and adjacent the opposite end to said block forurging said bight in a direction toward the lengthening thereof andthereby tightening said one of said cables.

References flied in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,161,734 Wheless June 6, 1939 2,323,605 Johnson July 6, 1943 2,870,925Bernad et al. Jan. 27, 1959 2,875,913 Gohrke et al. Mar. 3, 19592,973,876 Voss Mar. 7, 1961 3,045,846 Clark July 24, 1962 FOREIGNPATENTS 341,436 Switzerland Nov. 14, 1959 785,402 Great Britain Oct. 30,1957 1,106,182 France Dec. 13, 1955

1. IN A MACHINE FOR HANDLING LOGS AND THE LIKE OF THE TYPE INCLUDING ACARRIAGE AND A LOAD SUPPORTING STRUCTURE CONNECTED TO SAID CARRIAGE ANDPROJECTING FORWARDLY THEREFROM, THE IMPROVEMENT IN SAID MACHINECOMPRISING A RETAINER HAVING AN INNER END PIVOTALLY JOINED TO SAIDCARRIAGE ABOVE SAID SUPPORTING STRUCTURE AND PIVOTABLE BETWEEN A LOWEREDPOSITION AND A RAISED POSITION, SAID RETAINER INCLUDING A TOP PORTIONEXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM ADJACENT SAID CARRIAGE AND AN END PORTIONATTACHED TO SAID TOP PORTION ADJACENT THE OUTER END THEREOF ANDDEPENDING THEREFROM SAID END PORTION BEING SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULARTO SAID TOP PORTION WHEN SAID RETAINER IS IN SAID LOWERED POSITION SAIDTOP PORTION EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTALLY, WHEN IN SAID LOWEREDPOSITION SAID RETAINER ESTABLISHING WITH SAID CARRIAGE AND SAIDSUPPORTING STRUCTURE AN ENCLOSURE SURROUNDING THE LOAD TO PREVENT THELOAD FROM FALLING OFF OF SAID SUPPORTING STRUCTURE, JACK MEANS ATTACHEDADJACENT ONE END TO SAID CARRIAGE AND ATTACHED ADJACENT THE OPPOSITE ENDTO SAID RETAINER FOR MOVING SAID RETAINER BETWEEN SAID LOWERED ANDRAISED POSITIONS, WHEN IN SAID RAISED POSITION SAID RETAINERESTABLISHING AN OPENING BETWEEN THE LOWER END OF SAID END PORTION ANDSAID SUPPORTING STRUCTURE TO PERMIT THE LOAD TO BE MOVED FROM AND TOSAID SUPPORTING STRUCTURE, CABLE MEANS ANGLED ACROSS FROM SAID ENDPORTION TO SAID TOP PORTION AND COUPLED ADJACENT OPPOSITE ENDSRESPECTIVELY TO SAID PORTIONS IN POSITION TO CONTACT THE LOAD CARRIED ONSAID SUPPORTING STRUCTURE, RESILIENT MEANS URGING SAID CABLE TOWARDS ATAUT POSITION WHEREBY SAID CABLE IS ADAPTED TO EXERT PRESSURE ON SAIDLOAD WHEN PRESSED THEREAGAINST TO HOLD THE LOAD TIGHTLY ON SAIDSUPPORTING STRUCTURE.